Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-11-11
PARTY sHIBBOLETIlS.


In the early Roman hippodrome, rs on
the modern race track, the contesiing |
drivers wore distinguishing colors. AT
first there were but two, the green OF the
earth and the blue Of the sea. On oeca-
sions the betting of the excitement ran 20
high that collisions between the blues and |
the greens occurred, and many times the
sands of the circus were soaked with the
blood of the factions. Out of thus practice
partisan prejudice arose that was destined
10 live for almost thousand years, When
ever Rome was divided upon questions
political, religious, social or otherwise,
the blues would be found upon one side,
the greens upon the other. When the
capital went to Constantinople the parti-
sanism OF the colors went also. Five
hundred years OF christianity availed not
colors for each other. More than one en-
peror found the conflicts OF the blues and
greens within the streets of Constantinople
more threatening to the safety of his reign
than were the ambitions of all his foreign
foes. The original significance of the COL
ors had long been forgotten, but partisan
hate. transmitted from generation to gen
Grafton. intensified in direct ratio to
the lapse of time and ignorance OF the peo--
pie Ms to why they belonged TO this or that
color.
Ill, ,,oI. InIn nIn
God Is one, the christians that He is one
in three. For eight hundred years this
quarrel over techneca!ities whitened the
plains of Europe, northern Africa and
western Asia with the bones of the best
and braves, OF the two noblest civilizations
the world has ever produced. The cry,
"the trinity" led five millions of crusa-
ders 10 premature death from wounds,
starvation and disease. The cry OF "allah'
echoed from the heart OF France to the
easternmost shores of Asia and from the
Rhine to the dead mysteries OF the upper
Nile. The rancors born of these two bat
lie cries lurk in the hearts OF the nations
to this hour.
Almost Two hundred years ago battle
was taught IN Ireland. The colors OF th,
victorious leader became odious to the
vanquished. They adopted a rival color
and 10 this day III lards thousands o
miles away from The scene Of the origna
contest, and under constitution and law
guaranteeing equal rights TO all, th'
green and the yellow aie the signal TO
outbreaks that call for the best efforts o
the police 10 keep the wearers from doinl
}. bodily violence TO each other.
In our own generation and In our owl
:, land, we have Witnessed the fearful foil.
"free-soil" aud "state rights" were til
first rallying cries. From the commence
menl to the end of The conflict they wer
in mems hearts if not uron their lips
= The partisAps OF slavery aimed the frs
:, blow aud thus assumed the responsibility
but II would hardly be just 10 the truth
Y say that blow was entirely mnwelcom
to its recipients. The succeeding sruggl
% almost Il generation over. Common in
u teresis and common future have don
much to heal the wounds given and re-
ceived in that struggle. The majority q
those who rallied II; the party cIies hay
passed from the activities of lille. Thei
children, then unborn, are the main actor
upon the stage OF to day. Every dicti
| # ,,,,iioy ,,,nI ,iti "a Al
y. that the past should be forgotten, or,
remembered, remembered only in the gen
= erous spirit ol an enlightened snd pracIr
al age. But how is il? w. have only 4
e look about us and find answer in the polit
icnl phenomena Of the hour.
Upon questions Of public policy th
thoughtful men Of the parties are not ia
, from accord. They all desre The best, til
very best, that can be offered for til
, good Of all. Lett without party cries the.
2 could meet and speedily settle many u
: the gravest of lhese queslionS. But TIN
cannot be. Al the first whisper Of
party Shibbolelh, the people divide. A
the answering cry the lines OF batlle mr.
drawn, and the rancors born OF past con
aicts control, 10 the exclusion OF more I'M
| porlanl things. Nor is Ihis the worst 4
It. When the rallying cries go up lhos
who can shout longest and londcSt nj
chosen to lead. The more thoughuu
/ conservative and really patriotic rarel
' reach the coucll chambers of the nation
pSrtisanship becomes supreme and I'll
i goal of better government remains alway
1 aisr off. So long as this remains true, "
G must endure The evils OF our own follis
. We laugh at the blindness with whic
our ancestors followed the hollow shibbo
d leths Of the past. When we shall hay
none Of our own as senseless as were their
then will our mirih be consistent thong
IL be unjust. Our ancestors had not III
means OF knowing better. We have.
D. WHAT AM 4 TO DOT
"a ha sypnntnpna nf Rilionsnasa ara ha nni